Folding umbrella.



J. T. MANNING.

vFOLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION man APR.16.1911.

Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

w'o l John T by m UNIED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOI-IN T. MANNING, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

Application led April 16, 1917.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN T. MANNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Umbrellas, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to folding umbrellas of that type in which the umbrella stick is formed of two members having a telescopic relation, the inner member having the handle secured thereto and being jointed so that when the members are telescoped together the joint is exposed to permit the handle to be folded. The object of my present invention is to provide a novel umbrella of this type which is so constructed that when the umbrella is closed the two members of the stick may be unlocked to permit them to be telescoped together by simply pressing on one of the ribs of the umbrella. This end is accomplished by providing one of the ribs of the umbrella with a lock-releasing projection constructed to engage the lock and release the latter when the umbrella is closed.

In order to give an understanding of the invention, I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows an umbrella embodying my invention showing the frame in condition for use;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the umbrella frame folded;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the umbrella stick showing the lock or latch for holding the two members of the stick in their proper relative position and also showing the top spring;

Fig. l 1s a longitudinal section through the umbrella stick showing the lower or thumb spring.

As stated above, the` umbrella herein shown is of that type in which the umbrella stick is made in two sections having a telescopic relation. These two sections are indicated at 1 and 2, respectively, 1 being' the outer section which is tubular in shape and 2 being the inner section which may be either a rod or a tube. The inner section 2 is provided at Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1918. Serial No. 162,288.

one end with the usual ferrule and at its other end it is jointed, as shown at 4, thereby forming the handle section 5' which is pivotally connected to the body section of the inner member' 2. The outer member 1 :has secured to one end thereof the usual notched collar 6 to which the ribs 7 are pivotally connected in usual manner. 8 indicates the usual stretchers which are pivoted to the ribs at 9 and are also pivoted to a runner 10 which is slidably mounted on the outer section 1. The inner section 2 is capable of sliding movement longitudinally of the outer section 1, and when the umbrella is in use, the inner and outer members of the umbrella stick arein the position shown in Fig. 1, that is, the ferruled end of the inner member 2 projects beyond one end of the outer member l and the joint l ofthe inner member is situated within the outer member at the other end thereof and is thus held rigid. When the umbrella is to lbe folded, the inner section is moved within the outer section into the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the ferruled end of the inner member is drawn within the corresponding end of the outer member and the joint 4; of the inner member is carried beyond the outer member so that the handle section 5 can be folded. This reduces the leibagth of the umbrella to the length of the I'l S.

A latch or lock is provided for locking the two members of the umbrella stick in the position shown in Fig. 1. This lock is shown at 11 and it is carried by a spring arm 12 which is secured to the inner member. The outer member is provided with a locking slot 13 which is so situated that it is in alinement with the lock 11 when the two sections of the umbrella stick are in their operative position shown in Fig. 1. lVhen, therefore, the parts are in this position the resiliency of the spring 12 forces the lock or latch 11 through the slot 13 thus locking the two members of the umbrella stick from movement relative to each other.

In order to fold the umbrella, the lock 11 is depressed and thus withdrawn from the slot 13. This is herein accomplished by the projection lll is located and forcing the ribs inwardly, said project-ion will depress the latch 11 and thus release it from its locking engagement with the outer member 1. Then this has been accomplished, then a pressure applied to the ferruled end of the inner member 2 will force the inner member into the position shown in Fig. 2, thus releasing the joint ilto permit the handle to be folded. The folding of the umbrella may, therefore, be accomplished by simply closing it and then grasping the umbrella opposite the projection let and placing the 'errule of the umbrella against the Hoor, table or other support, and apply` ing downward pressure to the outer member.

In order to extend the folded umbrella the handle section 5 is swung into alinement with the body portion of vthe inner member 2 and said inner member is then moved longitudinally of the outer member until the locking latch Il snaps into the notch or slot 13. When the parts are in this position, the joint 4 Will be situated Within the end or' the tubular outer member l and the handle will thus be held rigid. After the inner and outer members are thus locked together, the umbrella can. be opened and closed in usual manner by sliding the runner l0 up and down on the outer member 1.

v15 indicates the usual top spring which cooperates with the runner to holdA the um` brella open and 1G is the usual loiver or thumb spring which cooperates With the runner to hold the umbrella closed. The top spring is shown as secured to the inner member 2 and as operating through a slot 17 formed in the outer member. The spring 1G is also secured to the inner member 2 and operates in a slot 'formed in the outer member.

IVhile I have illustrated herein a selected embodiment of my invention, I do-not Wish to be limited to the constructional features shown.

I claim z,

l. In an umbrella, the combination with a compound umbrella stick comprising an outer tubular member and an inner jointed member extending through the outer memy ber and'slidable longitudinally thereof, of ribs hinged to said outer member, a. runner slidable on said outer member' and connected to the ribs, a latch for locking the inner and outer members of the stick from relative longitudinal movement, and a projection on one of the ribs adapted to engage the latch and releasel same whenthe umbrella is closed.

In an umbrella, the combination with a compound umbrella stick comprising an outer tubular member and an innery jointed JGHN T. MANNING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byy addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

